We’ve talked a lot about the impact of climate change on our food supply—but what about the impact of food waste on the environment? USDA looks at the scale of the problem—and we consider the solutions already available to address it.
Nearly 1/3 of food produced for human consumption goes to waste,we’ve reported.
Climate change could exacerbate the problem,as crops are increasingly threatened by extreme heat, erratic weather, and disease.
At the same time, food waste exacerbates climate change: Annual U.S. food loss and waste accounts for 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent GHG emissions, found a recent EPA report.
That’s “equal to the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants,”writes Jean Buzby, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison. “This estimate does not include the significant methane emissions from food waste rotting in landfills.”
Why it matters: “Reducing and preventing food waste can increase food security, foster productivity and economic efficiency, promote resource and energy conservation, and address climate change, which in turn, could also decrease climate change-related shocks to the supply chain,” Buzby continues.
We already have one solution ready to go: gene editing, which can make crops like strawberries and potatoes that last longer, wheat that’s more resilient, and even meat and dairy cows that can stay cool in the face of rising heat.
But we need policy that supports the development and deployment of it—read more.
The EPA is seeking applications proposing research on reducing household food waste—find out more about this funding opportunity and EPA Research Grants.
More Agriculture and Environment News:
Nature: 7 technologies to watch in 2022
“From gene editing to protein-structure determination to quantum computing, here are seven technologies that are likely to have an impact on science in the year ahead.”
